Drought Statement

drought_text.html

MEDIA RELEASE - ISSUED 11th JULY 2000

Statement on Drought for the 5 & 45-month periods
ending 30th June 2000

Rainfall deficiencies persist

The Bureau of Meteorology's Deputy Director (Services),
Dr Geoff Love, said today that there was some development
of short term rainfall deficiencies in the southwest
of Western Australia, the east of Tasmania and southeast Queensland
following below average June rainfall.
However, there was little if any change in the pattern of
long-term deficiencies dating from late 1996.

Below to very much below average rainfall in June
across much of southern Australia has resulted in some
worsening of existing rainfall deficiencies in southern
Victoria and southeastern Tasmania, noted over the
15 months since April 1999.
An area around Burnie in northern Tasmania is also affected.

The below average June rainfall has also contributed
to the development of rainfall deficiencies for the
5-month period ending 30/06/2000. The areas affected are
in southwest Western Australia and southeastern Queensland
(see first map below).
Much of eastern Tasmania has also experienced low
rainfall over this shorter period.

The 45 months from October 1996 to June 2000 (see second map below)
have been very dry in an area extending from the southern Eyre
Peninsula in South Australia to Sale in eastern Victoria,
and also in northern and eastern Tasmania.
In some of these regions the rainfall has been lowest
on record for such a period.
Also, relatively small areas on the Queensland coast
between Rockhampton and Bundaberg have serious rainfall
deficiencies for this 45-month period.

Note: The terms used to describe rainfall in these
Drought Statements have the following meanings -

Well below average
- rainfalls in the lowest 10% of historical totalsBelow average
- rainfalls in the lowest 30% of historical totals,
but not in the lowest 10%Average
- rainfalls in the middle 40% of historical totalsAbove average
- rainfalls in the highest 30% of historical totals,
but not in the highest 10%Well above average
- rainfalls in the highest 10% of historical totalsSerious deficiency
- rainfalls in the lowest 10% of historical totals,
but not in the lowest 5%Severe deficiency
- rainfalls in the lowest 5% of historical totals

For more information regarding this rainfall
deficiencies statement,
please contact the following climate meteorologists
during normal business hours (EST) Monday to Friday: